Exclusive: 'Star Trek' Star Hints at Classic Captain Kirk Vibes in Hit Paramount+ Show

One of the most highly anticipated Paramount+ shows this summer is Season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. This light-hearted action-adventure series has been running since 2022, and in more ways than one, gets back to the swashbuckling vibes of the original 1960s series. And, since 2022, whisky-maker, watch-lover and former Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley has been playing a younger version of the famous swaggering space hero, James T. Kirk.

Originally played by William Shatner from 1966 all the way through 1994, Jim Kirk was later rebooted by Chris Pine for the 2009 Star Trek movie. But starting in 2022, Wesley has been in a unique position insofar as he's actually played a few different versions of Kirk, including one from a timeline where he traveled back in time, ate hot dogs in Toronto, and died to save the entire history of Earth. Thanks to the sci-fi antics of Strange New Worlds, Wesley gets to do all sorts of different takes of Kirk, even though in Season 3, he's not yet in charge of the Starship Enterprise.

"He's still not captain, and he is a long way from being captain," Wesley tells Men's Journal. "But, you get to see that Kirk is blossoming. You, see the little hints of like, 'oh wow, this guy's actually has it in him.'"

Technically, Strange New Worlds is a prequel to The Original Series, and, as such, stars Anson Mount as Captain Pike, Kirk's predecessor on the Enterprise. But Kirk has been popping up since the end of Season 1 and was featured prominently in Season 2. 

This time, in Season 3 — which debuts on Paramount+ on July 17 — Wesley promises that we'll be getting even more Jim Kirk action than ever before. And, if people were missing out on some of the Shatner vibes, well, let's just say those fans will be very happy this time out.

"I don't want to give too much away," Wesley says. "But you get to see a side of Kirk in a way that is going to bring people some flashbacks to the OG."

There you have it! Paul Wesley promises that Strange New Worlds will set phasers to fun, and who are we to argue with the future captain of the Enterprise?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 will hit Paramount+ on July 17 with a two-episode premiere. There will be 10 episodes in the season overall.